Spring-actuated curtain-holding device.



No. 690,980. Patented Jan. 14', I902.

J. H. MILANS.

SPRING AGTUATED CURTAIN HOLDING DEVICE.

(Application filed May 25, 1901.)

(N0 Modal.)

WITNESSES Q IN VE N TOR,

llinrrnn Snares PATENT Crricn.

JOSEPH II. MILANS, OF lVASl-IINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO CURTAIN SUPPLY COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, AND CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SPRlNG-ACTUATED CURTAIN HOLDING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,980, dated January 14, 1902. Application filed May 25,1901. Serial No. 6l,896. (N model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH lI. MILANS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Spring-Actuated Curtain-Holding Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in IO the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in spring-actuated curtain-holding devices and is embodied in the construction and arrangement of parts presently to be described,

and defined in the claims.

The invention relates more particularly to that class of devices wherein the power of a spring is employed to set suitable shoes or tips with sufficient force against fixed guides as to retain the curtain or shade in its various points of adjustment against the constant tendency of the roller-spring to draw up or lift the curtain. It has been suggested heretofore to employ fixtures of this type having elongated heads and to associate with said heads antifriction-rollers, sothat should the stick become tilted the strength of the roller-spring would tend to right the stick, such fixtures being commonly known as self-righting fixtures. My'invention relates more generally to this particular type of fixture and is designed to avoid more largely any tendency of the fixture or stick 5 to remain in a tilted or canted position, a condition which exists sometimes in the usual form, owing to binding or cramping of the parts. The invention also is designed to form an extended friction-surface and to avoid the 0 necessityof using pinch-handles,although the invention maybe used in connection with such, it desirable.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown an embodiment of the invention; but- 4 5 the details of construction are of relatively minor importance, inasmuch as the principle of the invention may be carried out by modified forms of construction and variations of arrangement. Figural is an elevation of the device, showing parts in connection and portions of the stationary guides or side posts. Fig. 2 is a similar view of one end of the fixture, showing the stick as slightly tilted. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the friction-shoes.

A designates the stationaryguides or posts having the conventional grooves Ct therein.

B designates a hollow curtain-stick. This stick is designed to be carried by the shade or curtain which, as usual, is of that type wherein a common spring-actuated roll is employed, the tendency of the spring of the roll being to at all times lift or roll the curtain up. Located in the opposite ends of the stick are hollow heads C, the same being fashioned conveniently with a recessed outer face 0 and a tubular stem C, extending centrally from the rear portion of the head, the tubular bore extending from the recesses c. This stem has a hreaded end,intowhich projects a rod D, having a threaded portion engaging the threads of the stem. The rod is held in the stick conveniently by the pin or screw d, passing through the stick and by having at its ends suitable flanges cl A head and its stem is located at opposite ends of the stick, and between the opposite ends of the rodsD may be interposed a friction setting-spring E, the normal tendency of which is to force the rods and the heads outward.

F designates the friction-block, which is of elongated formation conveniently of metal, wood,orother suitable material, having a projection G centrally located on its rear face. This projection has its extreme outer end fashioned to fit in the recesses c of the head C and is provided with curved flanges g, extending above and below the same and of a width less than the depth of the recesses in the heads, the curvature of the flanges cor- 9o responding to the curvature of the inner angles of the walls of the recesses.

H designates a coil retracting-spring located in the hollow stem C, having one end secured to the end of the rod D and the opposite end secured to a pin 71,, passing through a slot in the projection Gof the block. The

spring H may be secured to the rod D in any manner found most expedient, the connection in the present instance being through the I00 medium of an eyelet h, projecting from the extreme end of said rod. This eyelet may be secured to the rod in any manner found most expedient, preferably by means of a wooden plug or core inserted therein, as indicated by dotted lines at 72. This spring is of sufiicient strength to normallyhold a flanged projection G firmly and snugly in the bottom of the recess of the head 0, so that the friction-block is normally held at right angles to the plane of the stick.

In operation should the stick B be grasped at or near its center and forced upward or downward the engagement between the projection G and the head 0 will enable the movement to be made while retaining the friction-blocks in their proper position and permit them to slide up and down on the fixed guide. Should, however, the shade-stick be grasped at one end and forced upward suddenly, the joint or union between the flanged portion of the projection G and the head would be broken and the head would pivot or turn on the lower flange g of the projection as a center, as shown in Fig. 2, thus drawing out and increasing the tension of the spring H. The increased tension of the spring will, as is obvious, have a tendency to draw the head into its proper position relative to the projection, and owing to the fact that the shoe or friction-block F is of oblong construction, extending considerably below and above the head, the shoe will retain its position in intimate contact with the fixed guide, and the stick will thereby be righted to its normal horizontal position. By forming the projection G with the flanges g the head 0 may be tilted to some considerable extent without binding or having the projection G interfere with its movement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

' 1. In a shade-holding fixture, the combination with a shade-stick, of a friction member at the end of the stick having a loose connection therewith, a retracting-springinterposed between the friction member and stick, and a projecting head on the stick loosely engaging the friction member at a point along one side of the stick, substantially as described.

2. In ashade-holding fixture, the combine. tion with a stick, of an elongated frictionblock, a head "interposed between the stick and block and extending laterally beyond the stick, a pivotal engagement between the head and block and a retract-ile spring carried by the stick and connected to the block, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a shade-stick, of an elongated friction device at the end of the stick, means for forcing said friction device outwardly, and a'retractile spring secured to the friction device and stick and constituting the fastening means between the same, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a stick, of an elongated friction device at the end of the stick, a projection extending laterally from the end of the stick and engaging the friction device laterally beyond its center and a retractile spring for holding the parts in position, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a hollow stick, of a head at the end of the stick having a tubular shank entering the stick, a friction-block resting against the head and a retractile spring connecting the block and head, substantially as described.

' 6. The combination with a tubular stick,

of a head at the end of the stick having a recess in its outer face, a friction-block having a portion fitted loosely in the recess, and a spring for uniting the parts to permit an independenttiltingmovementbetween the head and block, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a stick, a head at the end of the stick having a recess therein, of an elongated friction-block having a projection fashioned to fit the recess, and a retractile spring for uniting the parts, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a stick, of a head thereon having a recess, a friction-block having a flanged extension fitting the recess and a spring for connecting the parts, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a stick, a head at JOSEPH H. MILANS.

\Vitnesses:

CALVIN T. MILANs, Gno. T. MAY, Jr. 

